PROTECTION FOR
REPORTING IMPROPER
GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
Statement of Policy
It is the policy of the State of North Carolina that State employees shall be encouraged to report verbally or in
writing to their supervisor, department head, or other appropriate authority, evidence of activity by a State
agency or State employee constituting:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
A violation of State or federal law, rule or regulation;
Fraud;
Misappropriation of State resources;
Substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety; or
Gross mismanagement, a gross waste of monies, or gross abuse of authority.
Further, it is the policy of the State of North Carolina that State employees be free of intimidation or harassment
when reporting to public bodies about matters of public concern, including offering testimony to or testifying
before appropriate legislative panels.
Protection from Retaliation
No State employee exercising direct or indirect supervisory authority shall discharge, threaten or otherwise
discriminate against a State employee regarding their compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of
employment because the State employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, reports or is about to
report, verbally or in writing, any activity described in the Statement of Policy, unless the State employee
knows or has reason to believe that the report is inaccurate.
No State employee shall retaliate against another State employee because the employee, or a person acting on
behalf of the employee, reports or is about to report, verbally or in writing, any activity described in the
Statement of Policy.
No State employee exercising direct or indirect supervisory authority shall discharge, threaten or otherwise
discriminate against a State employee regarding their compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of
employment because the State employee has refused to carry out a directive which in fact constitutes a violation
of State or federal law, rule or regulation or poses a substantial and specific danger to the public health and
safety.
No State employee shall retaliate against another State employee because the employee has refused to carry
out a directive which may constitute a violation of State or federal law, rule or regulation, or poses a substantial
and specific danger to the public health and safety.
These protections shall include State employees who report any activity described in the Statement of Policy
to the State Auditor or to the Program Evaluation Division of the NC General Assembly.
Actions for Relief or Other Remedies
Any State employee injured by an alleged violation of the protection from retaliation may file a grievance and/or
lawsuit as provided by applicable North Carolina law.
Notice of Employee Protections and Obligations
The University of North Carolina is posting this notice in accordance with State law in order to keep employees
informed of their protections and obligations under State law.
Provided by UNC General Administration (01-04-2016)